GoTanzania Visa Requirements

Visa Entry

The Embassy of Tanzania in China issues five types of visas to Chinese citizens, including business visas, visiting visas, visiting visas, tourist visas, and special visas. To apply for a visa, the applicant must submit the original and photocopy of their passport, visa application form, round-trip airfare, invitation letter, and identification of the inviter.

For visa requirements, please refer to the website of the Embassy of Tanzania in China at: https://cn.tzembassy.go.tz/

According to the "Mutual Visa Exemption Agreement" signed between China and Tanzania, Chinese citizens holding diplomatic or official passports do not need to apply for visas if their visit to Tanzania does not exceed 180 days. Chinese citizens holding official ordinary passports or ordinary passports can apply for a landing (tourist) visa upon arrival at designated ports of entry, including Dar es Salaam Airport and Zanzibar Airport, with a single entry visa fee of $50.

To enter Tanzania, one must hold a passport, visa, or residence permit with a remaining validity period exceeding 6 months. If you do not have a residence permit in Tanzania, you must fill out an entry card upon entry and truthfully answer immigration officials' inquiries about the purpose of coming to Tanzania. If you are going to Tanzania for short-term business inspection activities and do not have a residence permit in Tanzania, you need to apply for a 90 day valid Business visa at the airport upon entry, which costs $250.

For visa policy regulations and specific methods, please refer to the Tan Immigration Bureau website at: http://www.immigration.go.tz/index.php/en/

Customs epidemic prevention and control

According to the 12th Travel Reminder issued by the Tanzanian Ministry of Health effective from January 12, 2023:

1、 It is recommended that all inbound or transit passengers complete the whole process of COVID-19 vaccination before coming to Tanzania.

2、 All inbound or transit passengers will no longer be required to show COVID-19 vaccination certificate, nucleic acid test certificate or accept rapid antigen test, except for those who need to travel by means of transportation or the final destination country. However, due to the need for epidemic monitoring, border health and quarantine departments may extract passengers for free rapid antigen testing at any time.

3、 After arrival, passengers will undergo temperature and other health indicators testing. If there are any related symptoms, quarantine and other measures should be implemented in accordance with Tanzania's relevant health policies.

If the total value of personal belongings of the incoming person exceeds $500, they need to declare the items, quantity, and price they bring. After customs clearance, equipment such as video, photography, and musical instruments need to keep their customs certificates for future clearance purposes. Other items that need to be declared must keep the purchase invoice or receipt for the purpose of declaring the price of the item.

It is not necessary to declare the following articles that are not for sale when entering the country: alcoholic beverages within 1L, cigarettes within 200, cigars within 50, tobacco within 250g and perfume within 1L.

Prohibited items for entry: drugs, white phosphorus matches, firearms, subversive photos, etc.

Control the items brought into the country (with permission from relevant government departments): animals (including animal eggs), plant seeds, fish, animal traps, weapons and ammunition, explosives, etc.

Tanzania Customs allows foreign citizens to carry US $10000 when entering or leaving the country, and prohibits foreigners to carry a large amount of local currency (Tanzania Shillings) into or out of the country.

The Tanzanian government has intensified its efforts to crack down on illegal purchases or carrying of wildlife products. Once discovered, severe penalties will be imposed, including confiscation of items, huge fines, and even criminal liability. We solemnly remind Chinese citizens in or visiting Tanzania to strictly abide by Tanzanian laws and not to purchase (including purchasing in third countries) or bring any wildlife products into or out of the country. If carrying gemstones such as Tanzanine blue out of the country, one must present a legitimate machine printed invoice, an export license from the Tanzanian Mineral Audit Bureau, and a certificate of gemstone origin. The laboratory of the bureau provides commercial evaluation services such as analysis and testing of precious metals and mineral resources, identification and grading of raw ores and gemstones, ensuring the authenticity of goods and handling export procedures for tourists in accordance with legal procedures. If legal procedures cannot be provided, customs officials will confiscate the gemstones and impose fines or even detention. According to the regulations of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism of Tanzania, passengers carrying non-commercial black wood carvings and other sculpture products out of the country must submit a formal invoice from the tax bureau. The purchase and export of black wood carvings and other sculptural products for commercial purposes must be handled in accordance with relevant regulations.

Residency and Naturalization

All foreigners who stay in Tanzania for a long time for justified reasons can apply for residence permit to the Tanzanian Immigration Bureau. For example, if they want to invest in Tanzania or work in Tanzania, they must first apply for work permit to the Ministry of Labor of Tanzania.

There are three types of residence permits:

Class A: awarded to foreigners who plan to invest in industries, mining, forests, social services and commerce.

Class B: issued to foreigners employed by Tanzania's companies and public institutions.

Class C: awarded to other foreigners, such as missionaries, overseas students, volunteers, scholars, etc.

B and C licenses must be applied for before coming to Tanzania.

Investors who plan to apply for a Class A residence permit in Tanzania can handle it through the Tanzania Government Investment Center or directly apply to the Tanzania Immigration Bureau. The B-class residence permit should be processed by the employer in Tanzania before coming to Tanzania.

Work permits are divided into five categories:

Class A: awarded to foreigners who plan to invest in industries, mining, forests, social services and commerce.

Class B: awarded to foreign experts, professors, etc.

Class C: awarded to foreign employees

Category D: awarded to religious or charitable workers

Exemption category: awarded to personnel of aid agencies in Tanzania

According to the Tanzanian Nationality Law, Tanzania does not recognize dual citizenship. Foreigners in Tanzania who wish to become naturalized in Tanzania must hold a legal and valid residence permit and have lived in Tanzania continuously for more than 10 years before they can apply for naturalization, and should give up their original nationality before naturalization.

For information on the visa policy regulations and specific methods of Tanzania, please refer to the website of the Tanzania Immigration Bureau: http://www.immigration.go.tz/index.php/en/

Please refer to the website of the Ministry of Labor of Tanzania for specific regulations and methods related to labor policies http://www.kazi.go.tz/

Tanzania's risk level is blue (low risk)

public security

The political situation in Tanzania has been stable for a long time. In recent years, affected by the inflow of small arms, the increase of refugees and the low employment rate, the COVID-19, the public security situation is not good, and the cases of foreigners' property being robbed frequently occur in Tanzania. It is recommended that Chinese citizens traveling to Tanzania raise their awareness of robbery and theft prevention and go out together. Try not to bring a bag when going out, avoid traveling at night, do not carry large amounts of cash with you, do not expose valuable items, keep important documents such as passports properly, and avoid going to complex places such as casinos. There has been a robbery incident while taking a taxi, and the Tan police suggest calling a taxi through a travel agency or hotel front desk to reduce safety risks.

natural disaster

Parts of Tanzania are occasionally hit by floods during the rainy season (from March to May each year).

Tanzania is adjacent to the Indian Ocean, but there are very few well-equipped beach resorts. Some places where tourists can swim in the sea often encounter dangerous situations due to factors such as large waves.

FDA

Tanzania's public health conditions are relatively backward, with frequent outbreaks of cholera and other diseases. It is recommended that Chinese citizens traveling to Tanzania avoid drinking tap water directly or dining in restaurants with poor hygiene conditions. They can choose larger scale restaurants or Chinese restaurants. Supermarket food can also be purchased with confidence.

Urgent Help

Bandit police, fire alarm, emergency hotline: 111, 112, 999

Embassy Consular Protection and Assistance Hotline: 00255-754075128 (Tanzania Mainland), 00255-772148768 (Zanzibar)

air traffic

Tanzania has three major international airports: Dar es Salaam Nyerel International Airport, Kilimanjaro International Airport, and Zanzibar International Airport. At present, Tanzania Airlines has a direct route from Dar es Salaam to Guangzhou, with transfers from other cities in China to destinations such as Dubai, Doha, and Addis Ababa.

There are airports in major cities in Tanzania, and domestic routes are mostly operated by small and medium-sized aircraft with frequent flights. You can take a taxi to travel between the airport and the city center.

land transport

Most domestic passenger and freight transportation in Tanzania is completed by road, and long-distance domestic transportation is undertaken by several large passenger transport companies, such as Royal Coach, Scandinavian Express, etc., connecting major cities in the country and surrounding countries.

Chinese driver's license cannot be used directly in the local area, and an application for a local driver's license replacement is required. Driving in Tanzania is right-hand drive and left-hand drive. At major traffic intersections, traffic lights must be followed. In case of traffic police command, follow the instructions of the traffic police.

The road conditions in Tanzania are poor, and many sections of the road lack street lighting at night. It is important to drive carefully and avoid driving too fast or under the influence of alcohol. It is essential to fasten your seat belt while driving.

Tanzania has two major railway networks - the Tanzania Railway Corporation (TRC) and the TAZARA railway network. The Tanzania Railway Corporation (TRC) provides passenger and freight services to most parts of Tanzania, while the TAZARA railway network, built with Chinese assistance, extends over 1800 kilometers southwest from Dar es Salaam to New Kapirimbo, connecting with the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.

water communication

The main ports in Tanzania include Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Tanga, and Mtwara. There is a fixed daily barge passenger route between Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar.

Urban transportation

The main urban public transportation in Tanzania is mainly small buses, which are in poor condition but have low costs and are relatively convenient. There are taxis and motorcycles operating in major cities, but they are not equipped with meters and require negotiation before riding. Road congestion is severe in major cities such as Dar es Salaam.

major city

Dar es Salaam is the largest city in Tanzania, with a population of approximately 5.38 million (according to the Tanzania Bureau of Statistics in 2023). It has a hot and humid climate and is the economic center of the country. Dar es Salaam is a mixed language vocabulary of Bantu and Arabic in Africa, meaning "port of peace". It is a typical representative of the Swahili culture formed by the fusion of Bantu culture and Arab and Indo Pakistani cultures along the Indian Ocean coast of East Africa.

Dodoma is the capital of Tanzania, located in the central plateau region of Tanzania, with a dry and cool climate and a population of approximately 3.01 million. The Tanzanian government planned to relocate the capital from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma in 1973. In 1996, the National Assembly of Tanzania moved to Dodoma, and currently most government agencies such as the Presidential Palace, Vice Presidential Palace, and Prime Minister's Office have moved to Dodoma.

Arusha is located in the northern plateau region of Tanzania, with a population of approximately 2.36 million. The surrounding tourism resources are abundant, making it a key hub for the tourism industry in Tanzania. Arusha is still the center of Tanzania's diplomacy and international relations, with the headquarters of the East African Community and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, which tried the Rwandan genocide, located here.

Mwanza is located on the southern shore of Lake Victoria, the largest lake in Africa, with a population of approximately 3.7 million. It is the main city in northwestern Tanzania, a port on the inner lake, and the capital of Mwanza Province. Mwanza is an important waterway gateway for Tanzania to neighboring countries Uganda and Kenya in East Africa.

Zanzibar is composed of Zanzibar Island (also known as Wengujia Island), Pemba Island, and several small islands, with the closest distance to the mainland being only 36 kilometers. Zanzibar is governed by the highly autonomous Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar. The population is approximately 1.89 million.

Commodity prices

Tanzania is rich in primary products such as sisal, cotton, cloves, cashews, coffee, tobacco, seafood, etc. In addition, it has reserves of energy and mineral resources such as oil, natural gas, copper, iron, nickel, gold, and gemstones (Tanzanian blue, diamonds). The supply of daily consumer goods in Tanzania is relatively scarce, with most goods relying on imports and relatively high price levels. Most products include an 18% value-added tax in their selling price.

The local currency in Tanzania is the Tanzanian shilling, and currently the exchange rate between the shilling and the US dollar (only accepting US dollar banknotes issued after 2006) is 2475:1 (November 2023 data). Tan's daily payments are mainly made in cash, and large transactions can be paid through bank transfers or checks.

Insurance Medical

The medical conditions in Tanzania are poor, except for some private hospitals with better conditions, most areas lack medical care and medicine. The medical conditions in Dar es Salaam are slightly better, with major hospitals including Muhimbili Hospital and Aga Khan Hospital. The medical procedure is basically the same as that of Chinese hospitals, including registration, examination, diagnosis, and treatment. The cost of hospital treatment is very high, especially for foreigners. Aga Khan Hospital is a private hospital with good equipment and facilities. Chinese people mainly see doctors in this hospital.

The two government hospitals in Zanzibar (Mnazi Mmoja Hospital located on Zanzibar Island and Abdulla Mzee Hospital located on Pemba Island) have Chinese aid medical teams with doctors, but overall medical conditions and facilities are still relatively backward.

Foreign companies and individuals in Tanzania are required to purchase commercial medical insurance on their own.

Epidemic diseases in Tanzania mainly include malaria, dengue fever, typhoid fever, AIDS, etc. Malaria and dengue fever are mainly transmitted through mosquito bites, while typhoid fever is caused by infection through diet and drinking water, and can be transmitted between people. After onset, the condition develops rapidly. The main preventive measures are to prevent mosquito bites, pay attention to personal hygiene, avoid eating unclean food and drinking raw water. If you feel unwell, seek medical attention immediately to avoid delaying the condition.

Customs taboos

Tanzania advocates religious freedom, and historical and political factors have led to the formation of a pattern dominated by the three major religions of Islam, Christianity, and primitive fetishism throughout the country. From a geographical distribution perspective, most coastal residents believe in Islam (about 45%, mainly Sunni), while 99% of Zanzibar residents believe in Islam. Urban residents mostly believe in Christianity (about 35%), mainly composed of Catholic, Evangelical Lutheran, and Anglican denominations, among which Catholicism has the largest number of believers. Mainland Chinese residents mostly believe in primitive fetishism (about 20%).

The people of Tan are relatively simple and have no special taboos. Funerals are determined by faith (mostly earth burial), and there are no special regulations from the government. The diet mainly consists of corn, rice, and sweet potatoes, with frequent consumption of beef and mutton, tea and coffee, and less consumption of pork and animal organs. It is not advisable to dress too revealing on Sang Island.

The public holidays in Tanzania mainly include New Year's Day (January 1), San Island Revolution Day (January 12), Union Day (April 26), Easter (April), International Labour Day (May 1), Saba Day, also known as Trade Day (July 7), Farmers' Day (August 8), Nyerel Day (October 14), Independence Day (December 9), Christmas Day (December 25), Boxing Day (December 26), Eid al Adha (according to the Islamic calendar), Eid al Fitr (according to the Islamic calendar), and Holy Week (according to the Islamic calendar).

Communications Power

Tanzania's Internet business has developed rapidly. The Internet penetration rate in major cities is high, and the cost is similar to that in China. However, the network operation is unstable, and problems such as network disconnection and slow network speed often occur. The main cities in Tanzania have good mobile phone signals, and the mobile phone signals are achieving nationwide coverage. After replacing the local SIM card in Tanzania with a Chinese mobile phone, it can be used directly.

The mobile phone number of Tan is 10 digits. To dial a Tan mobile phone number from a domestic Chinese phone, add 00255 before the number and remove the first 0 from the local Tan phone number. If you dial the local phone number 0754075128, the method is 00255-754075128. To make calls between local mobile phones, simply enter the number. To make a call to a domestic Chinese mobile phone from a landline phone, you need to dial 00086 before the phone number.

The fixed telephone number of Tan is 7 digits. To dial a landline number from a domestic Chinese phone, add 00255 and the area code (excluding the first 0, Dar es Salaam is 022) before the number. To call Dar es Salaam landline number 2666817, the method is 00255-22-2666817. To dial a domestic landline number in China using a landline phone, you need to add 00086 before the domestic landline number, then dial the city area code (excluding the first 0), and then dial the landline number.

The Tan power interface type is a British three eye socket, with a standard voltage of 230V.

contact information

Bandit police, fire alarm, first aid: 111, 112, 999

Consular Protection and Assistance for Chinese Citizens: 00255-754075128 (Mainland Tanzania), 00255-772148768 (Zanzibar)

Consular Document Consultation: 00255-756729947 (Tanzania Mainland, Monday to Friday 8:00-12:00 only)

Tax Bureau: 080078002222119343

Customs: 0222127085

Immigration Bureau: 02228505750222850576

Tourism Bureau: 0222111244

Dar es Salaam Nerel International Airport: 0222844371

Muhimbili Hospital, Dar es Salaam: 0222151367

Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam: 02221151510222115153

Zanzibar Police Headquarters: 0222230246

Main hospitals in Zanzibar:

Mnazi Mmoja Hospital: 2231071

Tasakhta Global Hospital: 2232341

Abdulla Mzee Hospital on Pemba Island: 0778479435